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ProblemsByVin File / 2018-CHEVROLET-MALIBU
2018 · chevrolet

chevrolet Malibu problems

3 safety recalls. 675 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.2 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

powertrain
155 reports · avg $2,500
moderate
electrical
119 reports · avg $850
moderate
engine
91 reports · avg $3,100
moderate
cruise control
68 reports · avg $600
severe
brakes
38 reports · avg $450
severe
steering
38 reports · avg $700
moderate
fuel system
15 reports · avg $1,200
severe
airbags
11 reports · avg $1,100
severe

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2018 Malibu · powertrain
TAKING MY FIANC TO THE AIRPORT SO THAT HE CAN REPORT FOR DUTY AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY COMES TO A SPEED OF 20MPH ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSE A VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO COME TO A CLOSE CONTACT WITH MY CAR. REPLACED SENSOR AND PEDAL AS INSTRUCTED BECAUSE I AM FRESH OUT OF MY WARRANTY AND A…
12/30/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11385601.0
2018 Malibu · powertrain
MY CAR RANDOMLY DISPLAYED A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" TRACTION LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND IT BROUGHT MY SPEED LIMIT TO AROUND 20 WHILE I WAS ON A BUSY STREET. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT THE POWER BACK BUT HAS DONE IT 3 MORE TIME…
12/30/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11385665.0
2018 Malibu · electrical
IN MAY OF 2020 I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN WOODBRIDGE,VA FOR A ECM RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. AFTER WAITING FOR THEM TO DO THE RECALL THEY STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. FROM OCTOBER TO CURRENT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THAT WAS STATED IN THE…
12/29/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11385419.0
2018 Malibu · cruise control
FAULTY ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR. PART IS SUPPOSE TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 60000 MILES ON IT. IT THROWS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCES POWER TO THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU CANT ACCELERATE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC OR TO GET…
12/29/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11291871.0

Estimate your repair exposure

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Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 18V358000 31/05/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles

A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
severe NHTSA 18V400000 14/06/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles

In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
severe NHTSA 19V642000 06/09/2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1

Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.

Common questions

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.2 out of 10 based on 675 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 155 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Chevrolet Malibu has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 675 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 16 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with chevrolet. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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